The Art of Networking

Networking is the key to so much success. It has helped us build our personal businesses, leading the way to bigger and better opportunities. For most people, networking is a daunting task. So many thoughts run through your mind: "What should I wear?" "Who should I talk to?" "How long should I mingle?" All of these thoughts are valid and we are here to share with you the art of networking at an event with these easy and helpful tips.

Wear something cute & bright.

It may sound like surface stuff, but sparking a conversation about your outfit is a sure fire way to successfully start a conversation. More than likely you are going to hear "Omg, I love your outfit!" and boom there is your foot in the door. Similarly, you complimenting someone you want to chat with is a great way to ease into a legitimate conversation. Rent The Runway is an awesome place to rent a classic, cute, bright dress for a networking event.

Let the other person speak about themselves first.

Even if you're dying to speak with someone important who could help you with your business or help you land a job, learn about THEM first. Ask them about what they do and their interests and then slowly segue into who you are and what you're hoping to get from them. It takes it from being a boring "elevator pitch" to a meaningful conversation.

Bring your business cards (even if you don't have a business, per sé).

Business cards are the face of who you are as a business or as a person. Many people make the mistake of thinking that business cards are only for established businesses....WRONG! YOU are a business too. Selling yourself is important so create a business card that displays you, your interests, and your contact information. Look at your business card as your mini résumé!

Be selective.

Just because you are at networking event, doesn't mean that you have to talk to every single person. You will exhaust yourself and chances are, the event won't allot you that much time to have meaningful conversations with everyone. With that being said, do your research beforehand and strategically think of who you want to spend your time networking with. 

Bring a friend with different interests than yours.

It is all about tag teaming when you bring a friend with you to a networking event. It is best to bring a friend who does not have the same exact interest as you, that way you're not feeling like you're competing with each other. You can both help each other work the crowd. Not only will they make you feel more comfortable because you actually know someone in the crowd, but you can use them to help with conversations. They can highlight things about you in conversation and make connections as they network too. 

Now, you should be ready to take networking by the reigns and shine. Do you have any helpful tips that you use to make networking easier? Then, share with us below in the comments! 

Happy Networking!

The Art of Entrepreneurship

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There is an art to being your own boss. As young entrepreneurs, we have learned many valuable lessons to make running your own business ten times easier. Of course, there is nothing "easy" about being an entrepreneur, but there is an art to it. Meaning, if you use the right paint and paint brushes, you can really sell your art (your business). Here are some of our tips on how to master entrepreneurship:

1. Hang around and learn from the people who are already doing what you aspire to do.

• There is something to be said about the people who have come before you and are excelling in the business you aspire to be apart of. Don't be shy and reach out to those people for tips and advice. Essentially, this is called "doing your homework". If you dive in nose deep into a business having not considered every avenue and consulted with the experts, it will make your beginning much harder than it needs to be.

2. Set goals.

• How can you track the progress of your business without having tangible goals? Short-term and long-term goals are key in tracking your success rate. Hold yourself accountable to these goals and set timeframes throughout the start of your business where you will check in on your progress toward meeting those goals.

3. Keep your business separate from outside factors.

• The greatest way to get side tracked from your business is to get SIDETRACKED. Outside factors can really slow down the advancement you should be having with your business. Venturing into the world of being a successful entrepreneur means not having one foot in and one foot out. Either you're all in it or you're just not that into it. Stay focused and keep your eyes on the prize.

4. Determine what the "prize" is and if you're willing to work for it.

• For most people, the "prize" in being an entrepreneur is something tangible, like money. If it's money you're after or a stable lifestyle make sure that the business you're embarking in is worth it. If your happiness outweighs the prize you've got to reassess if being an entrepreneur is worth it. 

5. Embrace sleepless nights.

• You've probably heard this word many times, but the best entrepreneurs are always "grinding". Meaning, NO DAYS OFF. While everyone is sleeping, you should be working and building your business. If you're not working IN your business, you should be working ON your business. You will sleep one day, but just embrace that full hours of sleep will happen few and far between.

6. Understand that failure is not a road block, but a stepping stone to reach bigger and better heights for your business growth.

• You WILL fail throughout your journey as an entrepreneur, but it's those moments of failure that make you an even wiser and stronger business person. Lock those failures in your mind and rise above them. It will make both you and your business better in the end.

Are you an entrepreneur or aspiring to be one? What tips or questions do you have? Share with us below!

Business Hour to Happy Hour

 Skirt: Forever 21. Suit Jacket: Calvin Klein (similar). Bolted Studded Clutch: Forever 21. Necklace: Forever 21 (similar).

Pumps: Shoedazzle.

It's 5PM and you're ready to head home from a long day of work (or your internship), when suddenly, your coworker invites you to Happy Hour. We've all experienced this, and well, Happy Hour isn't so happy when you're stuck in your business clothes. We have found that it is pretty simple to go from business attire to happy hour attire when you don't have much time to freshen up (believe us, we don't like missing Happy Hour prices either!). Going from Business Hour to Happy Hour can be as simple as trading your suit pants for a cute skirt, adding a trendy necklace to make your undershirt and business jacket pop, or switching your briefcase for a fun purse/clutch like Karen did. The ability to add and take away pieces can change up your whole outfit in a matter of seconds.